Alabama law enforcement officers are mourning the death of a Baldwin County deputy who died Sunday night while trying to rescue three swimmers in distress.

Officials report that Baldwin County Deputy Bill Smith died while attempting the rescue in the Gulf near Fort Morgan.

FOX10 News in Mobile reports that two deputies were patrolling the area when they spotted the swimmers in trouble in the Gulf.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall posted a news release about Smith’s death.

“It is with great sadness that Alabama’s law enforcement community has suffered the loss of another hero,” Marshall said. “Baldwin County Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Smith perished in the line of duty while heroically rescuing a swimmer in distress along Alabama’s Gulf Coast Sunday evening.”

“Deputy Smith’s brave and swift response to save the life of another should cause us all to pause and reflect upon the sacrifice of all law enforcement. We can never repay Deputy Smith for putting the life of a potential victim ahead of his own. Tonight, we offer our prayers to Deputy Smith’s family and his friends and colleagues in the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.”

Deputy Smith, age 57, previously served with the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office seven years ago. Smith was married and had two children.

A second deputy who assisted Smith in the rescue was sent to the hospital for treatment and is expected to survive.

The swimmers who were rescued from the Gulf are also expected to survive.